Dial system



March 12, 1935. c. 'r. NORTON DIAL SYSTEM Filed April 24, 1954 is Attorney.

Patented Mar. 12,1935 1,994,321

UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE mar. sYs'rEM Charles T. Norton, Scotia, N. Y., assignor to Gen- ;ralkElecti-ic Company, a corporation of New Application April'24, 1934, Serial No. 722,215 6 Claims. 116-1243) My invention relates to dial systems and while rectly attached to the shaft 1 and is calibrated it is generally applicable-I contemplate its use in fifty divisions extending over one-half of its more particularly in connection with variable periphery it will move the distance ofa single electrical devices such for example as the reactdivision of its calibration in response to movesances of high frequency circuits. ment of the dial 4 throughout a complete revolu- 6 In tuned circuits, such as those of an oscilla- 'tion. V tor, one or more dials is generally provided in Thus to rotate the condenser throughout the connection with the tuning element, which may complete range of its variation fifty rotations of be a condenser or inductance, by means of the the dial 4 are required, each rotation ofwhich 10 calibration of which dial the frequency at which is indicated from the calibration of the scale 6 10 the circuit is tuned, may be indicated. In cases and each one hundredth of the rotation is indiwhere such circuit elements are subject to temcated from the calibration of the dial 4. In this Deratllre Variations the di ferent frequencies to way the entire range of variation is divided into which the circuit may be, tuned may not always five thousand equal divisions eacho; which may correspond respectively to fixed positions of the be read directly from the scale, the thousands 15 dial, due to the effect of temperature on the reand hundreds digits being read from the dial 6 actances of the circuit elements. Accordingly and the tens and units digits being read from the adjusting means. must be provided to correct for dial 4. Thus for example, with'the dials shown such discrepancies in the reading of the dials as in the position of Fig- 1, the reading is 1010.

may be caused by such temperature variations. 'Where the dials are used in connection with a 20 My invention has for one of its objects to protuning element of an oscillator, for example, a vide a novel and improved dial arrangement havcalibration curve may be provided indicating ing means whereby the correction of the readthe frequency of the oscillator corresponding to ings of a plurality of dials may be made with a each position of the dials as read from the caliminimum of trouble to the operator. brations thereof. It frequently happens, how- 25 The novel features which I believe to be charever, in the operation of such apparatus that; acteristic of my invention are set forth with parternal influences, may affect the frequency of the ticularity in the appended claims. My invention oscillator so that whenthe dials are adjusted at itself, however, both as to its organization and a certain reading the frequency produced is not method of operation together with further ob-. that shown by the calibration curve. In accord- 30 J' 'and advantages th eof may best be underance with my invention means are provided stood by refe e c t e W g de p n whereby the zero position of the two dials may taken in connection with the accompanying be adjusted to correct for such variation. These drawing in which Figs. .1 and 2 represent side means comprise in the embodiment of the inven- 5 views of my invention at right angles to each tion illustrateda third dial or index carrying other, Fig. 2 being partly in section. member 9 which is mounted concentrically about Referring to the drawing, I have indicated by the dial 4 as is clear from both of the figures of the reference numeral 1 a shaft which may be the drawing. This dial is arranged to rotate the rotatable shaft of a variable circuit element, about the dial 4 and carries an index mark 10 40 such as the condenser of the oscillatory circuit corresponding to the zero position of the dial 4, 40

Of an Osci a for example This Shaft is Oper- If we assume that the calibration curve indi-' 'ated y eans of a worm gear 2 Whlchis fixed cates a frequency of, for example, 5000 kilocycles thereon and which 18 driven by a worm wheel 3 corresponding to a reading oft-he dials 1010 but to which is rigiqly connected 3' rotatfible dial upon setting the dials for that reading a different This dial is calibrated about its periphery and reading is obtained due for example, to the 5 I are:2 enteritis:artist .22: of from that obtaining when the calibration curve was onnected to the shaft 1. A second dial 6 i i i t l ie form of a drum is also rigidly attached prepared the P Wm then ad-lust the dial to the shaft 1 andprovided witha scale about such that-the frequency of 5000 aportion of its periphery. k1loc ycles is obtained. Let us suppose that the The ratio of the worm 3 and worm gear 2 is, for Teadmg 18 now 2 j? carrymg m f b example, 100:1 so that fifty revolutions of the 9 is then moved to t p t w r Ind x dial 4 are necessary to rotate the shaft 1 through a correspo s to the reading 0 ll havone-half of a revolution. Since the dial 6 is (11- 111% corrected the zero position all other positions 5;;

of the dial 4 will produce the frequency denoted by the chart.

It is necessary, however, that upon adjustment of the zero position of the dial 4 that the zero position of the dial 6 be likewise adjusted and by an amount proportionate to the adjustment of the zero position of the dial 4. For this purpose the index mark 11 denoting the zero position of the dial 6 is carried upon a member 12 pivotally secured to the right end of a lever 13 which is itself pivoted at the point 14. The left arm of this lever is provided with a pin 15 which is best shown in Fig. 2. This pin comprises a follower riding in a spiral groove 16'on the back of the index carrying member 9, as is best shown in Fig.

2, and as indicated by dotted line in Fig. 1. spiral groove extends throughout the circumference of the dial member 9 and has such a pitch that the index mark carrying member 12 is moved vertically and relatively to the movement of the indexmark 10 in the same ratio as'exists in the relative movements of the dials 4 and 6. Thus if the index mark 10 be moved over fifteen divisions, the index mark 11 will be moved over fifteen" hundredths of a division of the scale. In this way,irrespective of the temperature of the apparatus whenever the zero of the dial is opposite the zero mark 10 the corresponding zero mark 11 will be exactly opposite one of the scale divisions of the dial 6 and both dials may be accurately read and checked with the calibration curve to obtain the desired frequency.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention it will be understood thatI do not wish to be limited thereto since different modifica'tions may be made in the structure and form of my invention, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifica tions as'fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention. I l I What I claim as new and-desire to secure by 3 Letters Patent of the United States, is: V

1. In combination, a shaft, a plurality of dials, means mechanieally connecting said dials to said shaft for movement therewith, the movement of oneof said dials being greater than the movement of another of said dials, normally stationary referv.ence indices cooperating respectively with said dials whereby'the positions of said shaft may be determined by-reading said dials .with reference to said normally stationary'reference indices, and

means to move said normally stationary refer ence indices, the movement ofone of said indices 1 8 a e than that of another of said indices 7 cause movement of said and in a ratio thereto equal to the ratio of movements of said dials thereby to produce equal readings of said dials with reference to saidnormslly stationary reference indices corresponding to different angular positions of said shaft.

2. In combination, a plurality of calibrated dials, normally stationary reference indices operating with said dials, means to. move said dials in a multiple relation, and-means to move said normally stationary reference indices over their respective dials in the same relation.

3. In combination, a shaft, a dial attached to said shaft for rotation therewith,.a second dial geared to said shaft for rotation in a multiple relation to said first dial, movable indices cooperating respectively with said dials, and means mechanically connecting said indices to cause said indices to move in the same multiple relation as said dials.

4; In combination, ,a rotating dial, a circular rotating dial, a gear connection between said dials whereby one dial moves in a ratio with respect to the other determined by said gear connec'tion. a rotatable. index carrying member mounted concentrically with said-circular rotating dial and cooperating therewith, a second index member cooperating with. said first rotating dial and mounted for linear movement, and meansto convert the rotary movement of said rotatable index member into linear movement of the other indexv member the movements of said index members being in a ratio'equal to the ratio of said gear connection. C

' 5. In combination, a pair of dials mounted at right angles to each other, means connecting said dials for relative movement in a digital relation, index members cooperating respectively with said dials, and. means connecting said index members for movement in the same digital relation.

6. In combination, a pair of rotatable dials mounted'at right angles to each other,.means connecting-said dials for rotary movement in a digital relation, a rotatable index member cons centric with one'of said dials and cooperating therewith, said index member carrying a spiral groove therein, a lever and follower connection with said spiral groove, and a second index car, ried by the lever of said lever and follower connection and cooperating with the other of said dials, said spiral and lever being proportioned to indices in digital relation. I I

' CHARLES T. NOR'I'DN. 

